Your phenomenal brain is three pounds of remarkable matter; it’s capable of amazing feats.
We can take in thousands of bits of data in seconds, cross-reference it against information stored in 140 billion brain cells in a micro-second and retrieve memories of everything from a recipe to our first kiss or our current project plan. That’s just what we’re thinking on a conscious level. Our brains also make sure we remember to do important, automatic things like breathing and making our hearts beat.
Your brain’s storage capacity is unlimited.
Research tells us the human brain consists of about 86 billion neurons. Each neuron forms connections to other neurons, which could add up to 1 quadrillion (1,000 trillion) connections. Over time, these neurons can combine, increasing storage capacity.
It’s a myth that you only use 10 percent of your brain. You use all of it – even when you’re sleeping. Your brain is always active.
Brain information travels up to 268 miles per hour! When a neuron is stimulated, it generates an electrical impulse that travels from cell to cell. The brain can generate about 23 watts of power (enough to power a lightbulb). Adequate sleep helps maintain the pathways in your brain; sleep deprivation increases the build-up of a protein that is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Sometimes, though, it’s the simplest thing that does you in. When the brain becomes too focused, interesting things happen. We become blind to change. Once people are told to pay attention to a specific part of a scene or picture, they will fail to notice when even significant changes occur outside of the area of focus.
An example comes to mind: I was sitting in a coffee shop wondering where my 2:00 appointment was when my phone rang. “Where are you,” Donna asked. “In the coffee shop by the Holiday Inn”, I replied. Unfortunately, she was at a coffee shop 50 minutes away. My email clearly described the address and proximity to the Holiday Inn, but Donna had merely scanned my directions.
Your brain has a big job. Be sure to take care of it.
The road is easier together,
Linda Laitala, President
Raven Performance Group